U.S. patent number 11,435,600 [Application Number 16/943,825] was granted by the patent office on 2022-09-06 for method for storing information on a spectacles lens, spectacles lens blank or spectacles lens semi-finished product.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH. Invention is credited to Andreas Dangelmaier, Simon Holtmann, Matthias Hornauer, Roland Schoen.
United States Patent |
11,435,600 |
Dangelmaier , et
al. |
September 6, 2022 |
Method for storing information on a spectacles lens, spectacles
lens blank or spectacles lens semi-finished product
Abstract
Information is stored in an optical element in the form of a
glass or plastic body embodied as spectacles lens, spectacles lens
blank or spectacles lens semi-finished product. The information in
the form of data is stored on or in the glass or plastic body by
creating at least one marking with a marking system. The marking
can be read by a reading apparatus. The marking system has an
interface for reading information individualizing the optical
element. The marking is created permanently by the marking system
on or in the optical element at a definition point of a local
body-specific coordinate system set by two points on or in the
optical element. In this body coordinate system, the manufacturer
specifies the position of the lens horizontal and/or the far and/or
the near and/or the prism reference point.
Inventors: |
Dangelmaier; Andreas (Aalen,
DE), Holtmann; Simon (Seaford Rise, AU),
Schoen; Roland (Aalen, DE), Hornauer; Matthias
(Lauchheim-Huelen, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH |
Aalen |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
Carl Zeiss Vision International
GmbH (Aalen, DE)
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Family
ID: |
1000006545916 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/943,825 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200355938 A1 |
Nov 12, 2020 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15603154 |
May 23, 2017 |
10976572 |
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14987458 |
Jan 4, 2016 |
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14312267 |
Jun 23, 2014 |
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PCT/EP2012/076613 |
Dec 21, 2012 |
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61585149 |
Jan 10, 2012 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 22, 2011 [DE] |
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10 2011 089 704.6 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
19/06178 (20130101); G02C 7/021 (20130101); C03C
19/00 (20130101); G06K 7/10 (20130101); G06K
19/06037 (20130101); G06K 7/10732 (20130101); G06K
7/10722 (20130101); G01N 21/958 (20130101); G02C
13/003 (20130101); B29C 59/16 (20130101); G01N
2021/9583 (20130101); C03C 23/0025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C03C
19/00 (20060101); G06K 19/06 (20060101); G02C
7/02 (20060101); G06K 7/10 (20060101); C03C
23/00 (20060101); G01N 21/958 (20060101); B29C
59/16 (20060101); G02C 13/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10 2007 037 730 |
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Feb 2009 |
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DE |
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WO-0233477 |
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Apr 2002 |
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WO |
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03/049952 |
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Jun 2003 |
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WO |
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WO-2005001552 |
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Jan 2005 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report dated Apr. 3, 2013 of international
application PCT/EP2012/076613 on which this application is based.
cited by applicant .
Written Opinion of the international search authority dated Apr. 3,
2013 of international application PCT/EP2012/076613 on which this
application is based. cited by applicant .
Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion of the
international search authority dated Jul. 3, 2014 of International
application PCT/EP2012/076613 on which this application is based.
cited by applicant .
English translation of the Office action of the Chinese Patent
Office dated Mar. 13, 2015 in the corresponding Chinese patent
application 201280063522.5. cited by applicant .
Office action of the European Patent Office dated Aug. 20, 2015 in
the corresponding European patent application 12818506.3-1562.
cited by applicant .
DIN EN ISO 13666: 1998-11 of the DIN Deutschen Institut fuer
Normung, e.V, Nov. 1998, pp. 1 to 51. cited by applicant .
DIN EN ISO 8980-2, Ophthalmic optics--Uncut finished spectacle
lenses--Part 2: Specifications for progressive power enses (ISO
8980-2:2004), standard by DIN-adopted European-adopted ISO
Standard, May 1, 2004, 13 pages and English translation thereof.
cited by applicant .
ISO/IEC 16022:2006(E): International Standard, "Information
technology--Automatic identification and data capture
techniques--Data Matrix bar code symbology specification", second
edition, Sep. 15, 2006, 142 pages. cited by applicant .
ISO/IEC 2382:2015, International Organization for Standardization,
"Information technology--Vocabulary", May 1, 2015, 760 pages. cited
by applicant .
Office action of the European Patent Office dated Apr. 13, 2016 in
the corresponding European patent application 12818506.3-1562.
cited by applicant .
ANSI, "American National Standard for Ophthalmics--Prescription
Spectacle Lenses", ANSI Z80.1-2010, revision of ANSI Z80.1-2005,
copyright 2010, pp. 1 to 46. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Haupt; Kristy A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Walter Ottesen, P.A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of patent application
Ser. No. 15/603,154, filed May 23, 2017, which is, in turn, a
continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No.
14/987,458, filed Jan. 4, 2016 (now abandoned), which, in turn, is
a continuation application of patent application Ser. No.
14/312,267, filed on Jun. 23, 2014, (now abandoned), which, in
turn, is a continuation application of international patent
application PCT/EP2012/076613, filed Dec. 21, 2012 which designates
the United States and claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/585,149 filed Jan. 10, 2012, and German patent
application 10 2011 089 704.6 filed Dec. 22, 2011. The present
divisional application claims priority to each of the above
applications and incorporates herein the entire contents thereof by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for reading digital information stored on a glass
or plastic body embodied as a spectacles lens, spectacles lens
blank or spectacles lens semi-finished product for a progressive
power spectacles lens having a first permanent marking and a second
permanent marking, wherein one of said markings contains
information in the form of a data matrix code which individualizes
the glass or plastic body, said data matrix code including the
positions of the near reference point and the distance reference
point in the form of the tuple of numbers (xN, yN) for the near
reference point and the tuple of numbers (xF, yF) for the distance
reference point with respect to said coordinate system; said
apparatus comprising: a light source adapted for generating an
illumination light beam and for directing said illumination light
beam onto the glass or plastic body, said illumination light beam
passing through said glass or plastic body; a digital camera
defining an optical axis; a computer unit containing a program
storage medium with an evaluation program for capturing and
decoding the information from at least one of said permanent
markings; said first permanent marking being arranged on or in the
glass or plastic body at a definition point of the local glass or
plastic body coordinate system as defined by standardization
regulations DIN EN IS 0 8980-2:2004; said second permanent marking
being arranged on or in said glass or plastic body at said
definition point of the local glass or plastic body coordinate
system as defined by said standardization regulations DIN EN ISO
8980-2:2004; a spectacles lens holder adapted to hold said glass or
plastic body; a retroreflector for reflecting said illumination
light beam after passing through said glass or plastic body to once
again pass through said glass or plastic body; said digital camera
being adapted to receive said illumination light beam after having
once again passed through said glass or plastic body; said computer
unit being connected to said camera for reading said illumination
light beam; and, said program storage medium including a program
for finding the location of said first permanent marking containing
said information in the form of data individualizing the glass or
plastic body and extracting said information therefrom.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spectacle lens holder has
a cutout and a spectacle lens with said at least one marking
situated in the holder.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a motor for
rotating the retroreflector; and, said motor being connected to the
retroreflector.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light trap.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein rotating the retroreflector
brings about a homogenization of the image background with which
said digital camera captures said at least one marking on the glass
or plastic body.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a control instrument
for synchronizing the rotational movement of said retroreflector
with an image recording by said digital camera via electrical
connection lines.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer unit has a
monitor defining an output interface; and, said computer unit is
connected to said digital camera.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said program storage medium of
said computer unit is configured to capture and decode said at
least one marking of said glass or plastic body.
9. A method for reading digital information stored on a glass or
plastic body embodied as a progressive power spectacles lens, a
spectacles lens blank for a progressive power spectacles lens or a
spectacles lens semi-finished product for a progressive power
spectacles lens, said method comprising the steps of: providing a
progressive power spectacles lens having a first permanent marking
and a second permanent marking arranged on or in the glass or
plastic body with one of said permanent markings containing
information in the form of a data matrix code individualizing the
glass or plastic body; providing an illumination light beam;
directing said illumination light beam at said glass or plastic
body with said illumination light beam passing through the glass or
plastic body; providing a digital camera defining an optical axis;
providing a computer unit connected to said digital camera and
having a program storage medium with an evaluation program for
capturing and decoding the information from at least one of the
said permanent markings containing information in the form of data
individualizing the glass or plastic body; said first permanent
marking being arranged at a first definition point of the local
glass or plastic body coordinate system as defined by
standardization regulations DIN EN ISO 8980-2:2004; said second
permanent marking being arranged on or in the glass or plastic body
at a second definition point of the local glass or plastic body
coordinate system as defined by standardization regulations DIN EN
ISO 8980-2:2004; providing a retroreflector for reflecting said
illumination light beam after passing through the glass or plastic
body to once again pass through said glass or plastic body and then
being fed to said camera connected to said computer unit; said
program storage medium including a program for finding the location
of said first permanent marking containing said information in the
form of data individualizing the glass or plastic body and
extracting said information therefrom; and, said data matrix code
comprising positions of a near reference point and a distance
reference point in the form of the tuple of numbers (xN, yN) for
the near reference point and the tuple of numbers (xF, yF) for the
distance reference point with respect to said coordinate
system.
10. The method of claim 9, comprising the further steps of:
providing a spectacles lens holder adapted to hold said glass or
plastic body and having a cutout permitting said optical axis of
said camera to pass through said cutout; passing said illumination
light beam through said cutout; and, providing a retroreflector for
reflecting said illumination light beam after passing through the
glass or plastic body and said cutout to once again pass through
said cutout and glass or plastic body and then being fed to said
camera connected to said computer unit.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said illumination light passes
through the glass or plastic body while said retroreflector moves
and the section of the glass or plastic body with said at least one
marking is embodied as data matrix code recorded by the digital
camera.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein a recorded image is read and
processed by said computer unit to display the decoded information
of the data matrix code on a monitor.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said first permanent marking and
said second permanent marking are respective phase objects.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for storing information on a
glass or plastic body embodied as spectacles lens, as spectacles
lens blank for a spectacle lens or spectacles lens semi-finished
product for a spectacle lens. Moreover, the invention relates to a
glass or plastic body in the form of a spectacles lens, a
spectacles lens blank for a spectacles lens or a spectacles lens
semi-finished product for a spectacles lens, including a marking
arranged at a definition point of the local coordinate system.
Moreover, the invention relates to an apparatus for storing
information on a spectacles lens, a spectacles lens blank for a
spectacles lens or a spectacles lens semi-finished product for a
spectacles lens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Here, a spectacles lens blank is understood to mean a usually
pre-shaped piece of material for producing a lens, in any state
before the surface treatment has been completed. Spectacles lens
semi-finished goods, which are also referred to as spectacles lens
semi-finished products, are lens blanks where the optical
processing has only been finished on one surface.
In order to provide a spectacles wearer with sharp vision, the
spectacles lenses in a spectacles frame must be positioned and
aligned correctly with respect to the eyes of the spectacles
wearer. This is particularly important in the case of progressive
power lenses. Progressive power lenses provide spectacles wearers
with sharp vision at different ranges, without requiring
accommodation of the eyes. Progressive power lenses have a distance
or far reference point and a near reference point.
Specialists also refer to the near reference point and the far
reference point of progressive power lenses as near design
reference point and far design reference point respectively. A
definition of these points is specified in Chapters 5.13 and 5.14
of the EN ISO 13666:1998 standard, the entire content of which is
incorporated herein by reference. The American National Standard
for Ophthalmics--Prescription Spectacle Lenses ANSI Z80.1-2010 by
the American National Standards Institute, Inc. is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
However, optimum vision with progressive power lenses presupposes
that the progressive power lenses held in a spectacles frame are
positioned in front of the eyes of the spectacles wearer such that
the position of the far reference point and the position of the
near reference point coincide with the corresponding viewing
directions of the spectacles wearer into the far and into the near
thereof. It is for this reason that, pursuant to the specifications
in Section 7 of the standardization regulations DIN EN ISO
8980-2:2004 also incorporated herein by reference, progressive
power spectacles lenses must be permanently provided with at least
two markings. Pursuant to the aforementioned standard, these at
least two markings must exist on a progressive power spectacles
lens with a spacing of 34 mm and must be arranged symmetrically
with respect to a vertical plane through the fitting point or the
prism reference point. These two markings define a local,
body-specific coordinate system for the spectacles lens. These
markings can be used to reconstruct in a spectacles lens both the
lens horizontal and the far and near reference points, the
so-called fitting point defined in Chapter 5.24 of the EN ISO 13
666:1998 standard or the prism reference point defined in Chapter
14.2.12 of the EN ISO 13 666:1998 standard incorporated herein by
reference.
Pursuant to the EN ISO 13 666:1998 standard, the fitting point is a
point on the front surface of a spectacles lens or spectacles lens
semi-finished product, which, according to the specification from
the manufacturer, should serve as reference point for positioning
the spectacles lens in front of the eyes.
In the case of uncut spectacles lenses, which an optician receives
from a spectacles lens manufacturer after measuring the spectacles,
the position of these points is implicitly specified by the
aforementioned markings. That is, an optician can establish the far
and near reference point, the fitting point and the prism reference
point on the basis of the aforementioned markings. Pursuant to the
EN ISO 13 666:1998 standard, the prism reference point is the point
specified by a manufacturer on the front surface of a progressive
power spectacles lens or a progressive power spectacles lens
semi-finished product at which the prismatic effects of the
completed lens have to be determined.
This makes it easier for an optician to align the uncut spectacles
lens correctly prior to grinding and then to insert it into a
spectacles frame in the correct position such that the spectacles
wearer is provided with optimum vision.
In order to ensure that specifications on a spectacles lens do not
have an adverse effect on the vision of the spectacles wearer, the
specifications applied by the manufacturer to an uncut spectacles
lens are removed as far as possible by an optician before the lens
is inserted into a spectacles frame. The result of this is that,
for example, the position of the near and far reference points of a
spectacles lens can only be established with comparatively much
effort after being inserted into a spectacles frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to save individual spectacles lens
information on a glass or plastic body in the form of a spectacles
lens or a spectacles lens precursor, that is, a spectacles lens
blank or a spectacles lens semi-finished product, such that the
vision of a spectacles wearer therethrough is not adversely
affected and that this information can also be accessed when the
spectacles lens, or a spectacles lens manufactured from the
spectacles lens blank, is inserted into a spectacles frame or has
fallen out of a spectacles frame.
This object is achieved by a method for storing information in the
form of data on a glass or plastic body embodied as spectacles
lens, spectacles lens blank or spectacles lens semi-finished
product, in which the information on or in the glass or plastic
body is stored by creating at least one permanent marking, which
can be read by a reader, by means of a marking system, which has an
interface for reading information individualizing this glass or
plastic body, with the at least one permanent marking being created
on or in the glass or plastic body at a definition point of a local
body-specific coordinate system set by two points on or in the
glass or plastic body, for the manufacturer-side specification of
the position of the lens horizontal and/or the far and/or the near
and/or the prism reference point.
Within the context of this invention, data is, pursuant to the DIN
ISO/IEC 2382 standard, in this case understood to mean structures
of signs or continuous functions, which constitute information as a
result of known or implied conditions. DIN ISO/IEC 2382 is
incorporated herein by reference.
The method according to the invention renders it possible to store
information individualizing a spectacles lens permanently on a
spectacles lens glass or plastic body, without this needing to
exceed the number of permanent markings prescribed in the
standardization regulation DIN EN ISO 8980-2:2004 incorporated
herein by reference.
Here, information individualizing a spectacles lens is understood
to mean information which is different for each spectacles lens in
a large set with billions of spectacles lenses, corresponding to a
chassis number in motor vehicles. By way of example, a natural
number with sufficiently many digits is suitable as information
individualizing a spectacles lens. The information individualizing
a spectacles lens more particularly renders it possible to avoid
mix ups between spectacles lenses or spectacles lens blanks in an
operating manufacturing process, through which several 10 000
spectacles lens blanks often pass in one day. Individualization
information for spectacles lenses also makes it easier to search
for errors in a manufacturing process because, accordingly,
manufacturing errors in individual spectacles lenses can then be
related to specific process steps. Spectacles lens manufacturing
can also be automated more easily with information that
individualizes spectacles lenses and is stored on the spectacles
lenses because the individual glass or plastic bodies can be
uniquely identified before, during or after each process step
during manufacturing, and hence a so-called batch tracking is
possible. Moreover, information individualizing a single spectacles
lens can simplify and improve the quality control of spectacles
lenses over the manufacturing process.
The long-lasting marking applied to the spectacles lens by the
marking system is a permanent marking. Here, a permanent marking of
a glass or plastic body in the form of a spectacles lens,
spectacles lens blank or spectacles lens semi-finished product is
understood to mean a marking which adheres to a spectacles lens
over the whole service life thereof.
In particular, such a permanent marking provides protection against
brand piracy because it can be used to identify a spectacles lens
uniquely. By way of example, the permanent marking can be created
by laser engraving, chiselling, micro-drilling, impressing or
printing.
The marking created on or in the glass or plastic body being a
phase object renders it possible that this marking is not visible
to a spectacles wearer when wearing corresponding spectacles and
does not bother the spectacles wearer.
Here, a phase object is understood to mean an object which, when
irradiated by light in the visible spectral range, only changes the
phase of the light waves passing through the object without there
being a significant influence on the amplitude of the light waves
in the process. To the unarmed eye of an observer, that is, an eye
without artificial visual aids, the marking on or in the glass or
plastic body of a spectacles lens then is invisible.
A high-quality phase object marking in a spectacles lens glass or
plastic body can be created by an excimer laser in particular. It
is possible to use such an excimer laser to create a marking by
burning a multiplicity of pixels into a glass or plastic body
embodied as spectacles lens, spectacles lens blank or semi-finished
product. Here, one feature of the invention is that this marking
does not adversely affect the vision of a spectacles wearer if the
pixels have a diameter D lying in the range 60
.mu.m.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.100 .mu.m and have a depth T which lies in
the range of 0.5 .mu.m.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.2.5 .mu.m. Such a marking
renders it possible to store information in the form of a digital
code on a spectacles lens glass or plastic body, which code is
composed of individual pixels. The digital code can be a data
matrix code, more particularly a data matrix code pursuant to the
ISO/IEC 16022:2000 standard, for example, a DataMatrix ECC200 code
which is incorporated herein by reference. In the process, it was
found that a marking with a square external contour which has a
side length A of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm is able to store about
1600 bits of information, that is, the information of more than 1
billion numbers. As a result of the geometric centroid of the
convex envelope of the marking, for example, the data matrix code,
being a definition point of a local coordinate system defining the
lens horizontal and/or the far and/or the near reference point, a
definition point of this coordinate system can be specified very
precisely.
Such a code renders it possible to create patterns with a contour,
the convex envelope of which reproduces a trademark and/or a
company logo. In particular, such a code can replicate a trademark
and/or company logo created by laser inscription or printing on the
spectacles lens.
An idea of the invention is also to use such a pattern of the
pixels which, for example, form a data matrix code, and a further
marking, for example embodied as trademark and/or company logo,
created on or in the glass or plastic body to define the local
glass or plastic body coordinate system for the manufacturer-side
specification of the position of the lens horizontal and/or the far
and/or the near and/or the prism reference point.
A spectacles lens, on which information is stored such that the
spectacles lens is individualized as a result thereof and the
position of the local coordinate system is specified, allows fast
identification of assembly errors in a spectacles frame,
particularly in the case of progressive power lenses. Such a
spectacles lens with the information stored thereon can also be
protected from forgery.
An apparatus enabling the storage according to the invention of
information on a glass or plastic body in the form of a spectacles
lens, spectacles lens semi-finished product or spectacles lens
blank contains an interface connected to a marking system, for
reading in digital information that individualizes the spectacles
lens. The marking system is coupled to a referencing arrangement
for establishing the relative position of the spectacles lens
coordinate system with respect to the coordinates of the marking
system. The interface transmits information that individualizes the
glass or plastic body to the marking system. In the process, the
marking system creates a marking containing this information on the
spectacles lens. In the process, the marking system applies the
marking to a definition point of a local glass or plastic body
coordinate system, that is, a body-specific coordinate system,
which defines the lens horizontal and/or the far and/or the near
reference point and/or the prism reference point.
The information stored on a spectacles lens glass or plastic body
as described above can then be read by a reading apparatus. Such a
reading apparatus preferably contains a light source for generating
an illumination light beam which passes through a spectacles lens
to be read. After passing through the spectacles lens, the
illumination light beam is reflected at a reflector. Thus it once
again passes through the spectacles lens and is then fed to a
camera. This camera is connected to a computer unit which contains
a program storage medium with an evaluation program for capturing
and decoding the digital information from the marking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a progressive power spectacles with
spectacles lenses;
FIG. 2 shows a spectacles lens of the progressive power spectacles
with markings that define a local coordinate system;
FIG. 3 shows a detail of the spectacles lens with a marking in the
form of a data matrix code;
FIG. 4 shows a detail of a further spectacles lens with a marking
composed of pixels;
FIG. 5 shows a spectacles lens blank with markings that define a
local coordinate system;
FIG. 6 shows an apparatus for marking spectacles lenses with a data
matrix code; and,
FIG. 7 shows an apparatus for reading the information stored on a
spectacles lens with a data matrix code.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The progressive power spectacles 2 in FIG. 1 has two glass or
plastic bodies (4, 6), namely, a first progressive power spectacles
lens 4 and a second progressive power spectacles lens 6. The
spectacles lenses (4, 6) are fixed in a spectacles frame 8. The
topography of the spectacles lenses (4, 6) is fitted to the
individual vision requirements of a spectacles wearer. The
spectacles lenses (4, 6) each contain a prism reference point 11.
They each have a near reference point 12 and a far reference point
14. In respect of the near reference point 12 and the far reference
point 14, a spectacles lens manufacturer also specifies the
refractive index of the spectacles lens there for an optician so
that the latter can check the spectacles lens obtained from the
manufacturer. In respect of the prism reference point 11, the
manufacturer provides an optician with the specific prismatic
effect of the spectacles lens.
FIG. 2 shows the spectacles lens 4 of the progressive power
spectacles 2 from FIG. 1 in an enlarged view. On lens surface 10
facing an observation object, the spectacles lens 4 has a marking
point 16 and a marking point 18. The marking points (16, 18) define
a local body-specific glass or plastic body coordinate system 20
for the spectacles lens 4. The local glass or plastic body
coordinate system 20 has an origin 22 which, for example, coincides
with the prism reference point 11 of the spectacles lens 4 and
which is situated at the center of the imaginary connecting line 24
between the marking points (16, 18). The X-axis 26 of this local
glass or plastic body coordinate system 20 is parallel to the
imagined connecting line 24. The course of the X-axis of the local
glass body coordinate system 20 corresponds to the lens horizontal
of the spectacles lens 4. The Y-axis 28 of the coordinate system 20
is perpendicular to the imagined connecting line 24. The marking
points (16, 18) are the two definition points for the local glass
body coordinate system 20 of the spectacles lens 4.
The spectacles lens 4 has respective markings (30, 32) in the
marking points (16, 18). The markings (30, 32) are permanent
markings. The markings (30, 32) are composed of a multiplicity of
pixels and are produced by laser engraving. The sets of pixel
markings (30, 32) have respective convex envelopes (34, 36) with a
square external envelope. Here, in accordance with the definition
of "convex envelope" specified in the German "Wikipedia", the
convex envelope of a set is understood to mean the smallest convex
set containing the set.
The side lengths A of the square external contour of the convex
envelopes (34, 36) are each 2 mm. The position of the marking
points (16, 18) is specified on the spectacles lens 4 by the
position of the markings (30, 32). The location of the geometric
centroid of the convex envelope (34, 36) of the marking (30, 32),
that is, the surface surrounded by the square external contour of
the convex envelope (34, 36), corresponds to the geometric location
of the marking points (16, 18). The markings (30, 32) are phase
objects. They are therefore invisible to a spectacles wearer when
wearing the spectacles. The marking 30 is designed as a company
logo.
In the coordinate system 20, the points of the near reference point
12 and the far reference point 14 can be uniquely described by the
tuple of numbers (x.sub.N, y.sub.N) for the near reference point
and the tuple of numbers (x.sub.F, y.sub.F) for the far reference
point.
FIG. 3 shows a section III of the spectacles lens 4 from FIG. 2.
The marking 32 is a data matrix code. The data matrix code contains
data and corresponds to the ISO/IEC 16022:2000 standard
incorporated herein by reference. The marking 32 consists of a
multiplicity of pixels 40. The pixels 40 have a diameter D=80
.mu.m. The pixels are burnt into the spectacles lens with a depth
of T=2 .mu.m by means of laser radiation from an excimer laser. The
arrangement of the pixels 40 defines an information in the data
matrix code.
The information from the data matrix code of the marking 32
individualizes the spectacles lens 4. To this end, the information
in the marking 32 is comprised of a database address for a database
in which specifications of the spectacles lens manufacturer in
respect of the spectacles lens are stored. Alternatively, or in
addition thereto, the data matrix code of the marking 32 can
contain the information in respect of the points of the near
reference point 12 and the far reference point 14 in the form of
the tuple of numbers (x.sub.N, y.sub.N) for the near reference
point and the tuple of numbers (x.sub.F, y.sub.F) for the far
reference point. Moreover, the data matrix code of the marking 32
can alternatively, or in addition thereto, also comprise the
information in respect of the material of the spectacles lens, the
refractive index thereof and the value of the curvatures of the
spectacles lens 4 on the front surface and back surface, at the far
and near reference points (14, 16) or at the positions opposite
these points.
FIG. 4 shows a section of a further spectacles lens with a marking
62 composed of pixels 60. The diameter D of the pixels 60
corresponds to D.apprxeq.80 .mu.m. The pixels 60 are also burnt
into the spectacles lens to a depth of T.apprxeq.2 .mu.m by means
of laser radiation from an excimer laser. The arrangement of the
pixels 60 is encoded information which individualizes the
corresponding spectacles lens and which can be read by a suitable
reading apparatus. Here, the pixels 60 of the marking 62 form a
pattern 64, the outer contour 66 of which reproduces a company logo
or trademark, which corresponds to the letter Z. The geometric
centroid 68 of the convex envelope 34 corresponds to a marking
point in the spectacles lens.
FIG. 5 shows a glass or plastic body embodied as spectacles lens
blank 104. The spectacles lens blank 104 has markings (130, 132)
which correspond to the markings (30, 32) on the spectacles lens 4
from FIG. 1. The markings (130, 132) are situated on the image-side
surface of the spectacles lens blank 104, that is, on the surface
facing away from the object. Information individualizing the
spectacles lens blank 104 is stored in the form of the marking 132.
For example, this information is an address in a database wherein
manufacturing-related data with respect to the spectacles lens
blank 104 is stored. This manufacturing-related data can include,
for example, the material of the spectacles lens, the refractive
index thereof, the coordinates of the far and near reference points
(114, 112), the value of the curvatures of the spectacles lens 104
on the front surface and back surface, at the far and near
reference points (114, 112) or at the positions opposite these
points, and also the date and location of the spectacles lens
manufacture.
FIG. 6 shows an apparatus 200 for marking spectacles lens
semi-finished products 204 with a data matrix code. The apparatus
200 contains a conveyor 202, on which the spectacles lens blanks
204 are fed to a marking system 208.
The spectacles lens blanks 204 are arranged on a support 203. For
example, the spectacles lens blanks 204 can be blocked on such
support. In the support 203, the position of the local coordinate
system of the spectacles lens blank 204 is well defined with
respect to the local coordinate system of the support 203.
The marking system 208 comprises an excimer laser 210. The excimer
laser 210 generates a spatially displaceable laser beam 212, by
means of which a data matrix code can be written into a spectacles
lens semi-finished product 204. However, in principle, the
apparatus 200 can also be used to mark finished spectacles lenses
and raw spectacles lens blanks.
It is possible also to design the marking system 208 for marking
spectacles lens glass or plastic bodies by chiselling,
micro-drilling, impressing or printing.
A referencing arrangement 214 with a camera 216 is in the apparatus
200. The referencing arrangement 214 is used to reference the
spatial coordinates of the glass or plastic bodies in the form of a
spectacles lens, a spectacles lens semi-finished product or a
spectacles lens blank 204, which was fed to the marking system 208,
with respect to a coordinate system affixed to the marking system
208. For referencing the spatial coordinates of the glass or
plastic bodies 204, the geometry of the support 203 is viewed with
the camera 216 using image processing and relating the local
coordinate system of the spectacles lens blank 204 affixed to the
marking system 208.
It is to be noted that the referencing arrangement 214 also could
be an adapter for a support 203 for the spectacles lens blanks 204,
for example, an adapter which is formed as a chuck, in which the
support 203 can have only a single well defined relative position
in the coordinate system of the marking system 208.
These coordinates are transmitted to the marking system 208. This
ensures that the marking system 208 can be used to write a data
matrix code, which is oriented and arranged in a defined fashion
with respect to a local coordinate system of the glass or plastic
body, onto such a glass body 204. The apparatus 200 has an
interface 218 for reading in individualization information for a
glass or plastic body. This individualization information can, for
example, as mentioned above, be an address under which
manufacturing-specific data in respect of the glass or plastic body
are correspondingly stored in a database. The individualization
information can also comprise a running number, which specifies
optical parameters of the spectacles lens blank, the material of
which the spectacles lens blank consists, and the location and date
of the manufacture thereof. This information is transmitted to the
marking system 208, in order to store it in the form of a data
matrix code on a spectacles lens blank 204.
To this end, the laser beam 212 from the marking system 208 in the
apparatus 200 is used to write the appropriate data matrix code
into each glass body 204, in the form of a marking 230 on a first
marking point of the glass or plastic body 204. A further marking
232 is additionally applied to the second marking point. The
further marking 232 is a trademark or a company logo.
On the glass or plastic body 204, the position of the markings
(230, 232) defines the lens horizontal and the local coordinate
system in which the coordinates stored in the data matrix code of
the marking 232 specify the far and near reference point of the
spectacles lens glass or plastic body 204.
FIG. 7 shows an apparatus 300 by means of which the information
stored on a spectacles lens in the form of a data matrix code can
be read.
The apparatus 300 has a spectacles lens holder 312. The spectacles
lens holder 312 has a cut-out 314. A spectacles lens 316 with a
marking 318 in the form of a data matrix code is situated in the
holder. The apparatus 300 contains a light source 320 for
illumination light and a beam splitter 324. The light source 320
generates light which is guided to the beam splitter 324 with an
optical beam path 322. The beam splitter deflects a first part of
this light to the spectacles lens 316 with the beam path 323. This
light passes through the spectacles lens 316 and is reflected at a
rotating retroreflector 332. The light reflected by the
retroreflector 332 once again passes through the spectacles lens
316 with the beam path 334 and is fed to a digital camera 336 via
the beam splitter 324. The digital camera 336 has an optical axis
321. As a result of the optical axis 321 of the digital camera 336
lying in alignment with the optical axis of the beam path 334, it
is possible to achieve good imaging quality for spectacles lens
markings in the camera.
There is a motor 338 in the apparatus 300 for rotating the
retroreflector 332; this motor is connected to the retroreflector
332 via a drive shaft 339. In order to capture the light from the
light source 320 which passes through the beam splitter 324 in the
direction of the beam path 322, the apparatus 300 contains a light
trap 326.
Rotating the retroreflector 332 brings about a homogenization of
the image background with which the digital camera 336 captures the
marking 318 on the spectacles lens 316. To this end, a control
device 340 is used to synchronize the rotational movement of the
retroreflector 332 with the time points of an image recording by
the digital camera 336 by means of electrical connection lines
(341, 342, 343).
The apparatus 300 contains a computer unit 350 with an output
interface in the form of a monitor 352. The computer unit 350 is
connected to the digital camera 336. The computer unit 350 has a
program storage medium 354 for capturing and decoding a marking
318, embodied as data matrix code, of a spectacles lens 316.
In order to read the data matrix code on a spectacles lens 316,
illumination light passes through the spectacles lens 316 while the
retroreflector 332 is moving and the section of the spectacles lens
316 with the marking 318 embodied as data matrix code is recorded
by the digital camera 336. The image recorded in the process is
read and processed by the computer unit 350 in order to display the
decoded information of the data matrix code on the monitor 352.
A method is provided for storing information on a glass- or plastic
body embodied as spectacles lens 4 or spectacles lens blank 104 or
spectacles lens semi-finished product 204, wherein the information
in the form of data on or in the glass- or plastic body (4, 104,
204) is stored by creating at least one marking (32, 132, 230,
232), which can be read by a reader 300, by means of a marking
system 200, which has an interface 218 for reading information
individualizing this glass- or plastic body (4, 104, 204), with the
at least one marking (32, 132, 230, 232) being created permanently
by the marking system 200 on or in the glass- or plastic body (4,
104, 204) at a definition point 16 of a local body-specific
coordinate system 20 set by two points (16, 18) on or in the glass-
or plastic body (4, 104, 204), for the manufacturer-side
specification of the position of the lens horizontal 24 and/or the
distance and/or the near and/or the prism reference point (14, 12,
11).
The method wherein the marking (32, 132, 230, 232) created on or in
the glass- or plastic body (4, 104, 204) together with a further
marking 30, preferably designed as trademark and/or company logo,
created on or in the glass- or plastic body (4, 104, 204) sets the
local body-specific coordinate system 20 for the manufacturer-side
specification of the position of the lens horizontal 24 and/or the
distance and/or near and/or prism reference point (14, 12, 11).
The method wherein the marking 32 created on or in the glass- or
plastic body 4 is a phase object.
The method wherein the marking 232 is created by laser engraving,
chiseling, micro-drilling, impressing or printing.
The method wherein a multiplicity of pixels 40 are generated for
creating the marking 32 on or in the glass- or plastic body 4, the
pixels having a diameter D lying in the range 60
.mu.m.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.100 .mu.m and having a depth T which is 0.5
.mu.m.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.2.5 .mu.m.
The method wherein the marking 32 is a digital code composed of
individual pixels 40.
The method wherein the marking 32 is a data matrix code.
The method wherein the marking 32 has a convex envelope 36 with a
square external contour which has a side length A, which is
preferably 1.5 mm.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.2.5 mm.
The method wherein the geometric centroid 18 of the convex envelope
36 of the marking is a definition point 16 of a local coordinate
system 20 defining the lens horizontal 24 and/or the distance
and/or near reference point (14, 12) and/or prism reference point
11.
The method wherein the pixels 60 of the marking 62 are arranged in
a pattern 64, the external contour 66 of which reproduces a
trademark and/or a company logo, more particularly a letter, and/or
in that the pixels 60 of the marking 62 replicate a trademark
and/or a company logo 32.
The glass- or plastic body embodied as spectacles lens 4,
spectacles lens blank 104 or spectacles lens semi-finished product
204, more particularly a progressive power spectacles lens or an
individual single-vision lens of the invention comprises a marking
32 arranged on or in the glass- or plastic body (4, 104, 204) at a
definition point 18 of the local glass- or plastic body coordinate
system 20 for the manufacturer-side specification of the position
of the lens horizontal 24 and/or the distance and/or the near
and/or the prism reference point (14, 12, 11) and wherein the
marking contains information in the form of data which
individualizes the glass- or plastic body 4, in particular stored
by means of a method as described above.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the marking (32, 132, 230)
together with a further marking (30, 130, 232), preferably designed
as trademark and/or company logo, arranged on or in the glass- or
plastic body (4, 104, 204) sets the local glass- or plastic body
coordinate system 20 for the manufacturer-side specification of the
position of the lens horizontal 24 and/or the distance and/or near
and/or prism reference point (14, 12, 11).
The glass- or plastic body wherein the marking 32 created on or in
the glass- or plastic body 4 is a phase object.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the marking contains a
multiplicity of pixels 40 which have a diameter D lying in the
range 60 .mu.m.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.100 .mu.m and which have a depth T
which is 0.5 .mu.m.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.2.5 .mu.m.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the marking 32 is a digital code
composed of individual pixels 40, more particularly a data matrix
code 30.
The glass- or plastic body can be characterized in that wherein the
pixels 60 of the marking 62 replicate a trademark and/or a company
logo 32.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the set of pixels 60 of the
marking 32 has a convex envelope 36 with a square external contour
which has a side length A, which is preferably 1.5
mm.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.2.5 mm.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the geometric centroid 18 of the
convex envelope 36 of the marking 32 is a definition point 16 of a
local coordinate system 20 defining the lens horizontal 24 and/or
the distance and/or near reference point (14, 12) and/or prism
reference point 11.
The glass- or plastic body wherein the external contour 66 of the
marking 62 reproduces a trademark and/or a company logo, more
particularly a letter.
A device 200 is provided for storing information on a glass- or
plastic body embodied as spectacles lens 4, spectacles lens blank
104 or spectacles lens semi-finished product 204, using a method as
described above, wherein a marking system 208 for marking a glass-
or plastic body 204, by virtue of a marking 230, 232 containing
information individualizing a glass- or plastic body 204 being
created on or in the glass- or plastic body 204, an interface 218
connected to the marking system 208, for reading information
individualizing the glass- or plastic body 204 to be marked, and a
referencing arrangement 214, connected to the marking system 208,
for establishing the position of the local glass- or plastic body
coordinate system 20 on the glass- or plastic body 204 to be
marked, specifying the lens horizontal 24 and/or the distance
and/or the near reference point (14, 12) and/or the prism reference
point, with the marking system 208 marking the glass- or plastic
body 204 by virtue of the fact that the information, read in at the
interface 218 and individualizing this glass- or plastic body 204,
is transferred onto or into the glass- or plastic body 204 by
applying a marking (230, 232) containing this information to a
definition point (16, 18) of the local glass- or plastic body
coordinate system 20, established by the referencing arrangement
214 for this glass- or plastic body, specifying the lens horizontal
24 and/or the distance and/or near reference point (14, 12) and/or
the prism reference point 11.
A method is provided for reading digital information stored on a
glass- or plastic body embodied as described above, wherein an
illumination light beam (322, 323) is directed at the glass- or
plastic body 316, the former passing through the glass- or plastic
body 316 and being reflected at a reflector 332 after passing
through the glass- or plastic body 316 in order once again to pass
through the glass- or plastic body 316 and then being fed to a
camera 336, which is connected to a computer unit 350 which
contains a program storage medium 354 with an evaluation program
for capturing and decoding the information from the marking
(318).
A reader 300 is provided for reading digital information stored on
a glass- or plastic body 316 embodied as described above wherein a
light source 320 for generating an illumination light beam (322,
323) which passes through a glass- or plastic body 316 to be read,
is reflected at a reflector 332 after passing through the
spectacles lens 316 in order once again to pass through the
spectacles lens 316 and then is fed to a camera 336, which is
connected to a computer unit 350 which contains a program storage
medium 354 with an evaluation program for capturing and decoding
the information from the marking 318.
In conclusion, the following preferred features of the invention in
particular should be retained: On a glass or plastic body embodied
as spectacles lens 4, spectacles lens blank 104 or spectacles lens
semi-finished product 204, information in the form of data on or in
the glass or plastic body (4, 104, 204) is stored by creating at
least one marking (32, 62, 130, 230), which can be read by a reader
300, by means of a marking system 208. The marking system 208 has
an interface 218 for reading information individualizing this glass
or plastic body (4, 104, 204). The at least one marking (32, 62,
130, 230) is created permanently by the marking system 208 on or in
the glass body (4, 104, 204) at a definition point 16 of a local
coordinate system 20 set by two points (16, 18) on or in the glass
or plastic body (4, 104, 204), for the manufacturer-side
specification of the position of the lens horizontal 24 and/or the
distance and/or the near and/or the prism reference point (14, 12,
11).
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the
preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *